The Franklin County Sheriff's Office will receive $67,251 in state funding to connect overdose survivors with treatment, money that supports outreach services for residents in unincorporated areas near Hilliard.

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson announced Aug. 24 that his office awarded more than $2.5 million in Drug Abuse Response Team grants to 38 law enforcement agencies and local governments statewide for fiscal year 2027.

"Overdose survivors need urgent, hands-on support to break the cycle of addiction," Wilson said. "These grants empower local law enforcement and healthcare partners to meet people where they are in their most vulnerable moments and guide them toward lasting recovery."

The DART program, which the AG's office has administered since 2017, funds specialized teams that pair law enforcement with behavioral health providers. Those teams offer 24-hour assistance to overdose survivors and their families, including connections to immediate treatment and recovery support.

The Franklin County grant ranks in the middle of this year's awards, which ranged from $20,280 to $149,037. The Columbus Division of Police received the largest at $149,037. The funding covers activities through June 30, 2027.

To build the $2.5 million-plus grant pool, the AG's office combined $1.5 million in General Assembly appropriations with $1 million from opioid settlement funds. Many of this year's recipients have previously received DART grants, according to the AG's office, though it did not specify which agencies are returning recipients.

The sheriff's office already operates the Heroin Overdose Prevention & Education Task Force, established in 2015, which partners with treatment providers to connect people with substance use disorders to long-term care. The task force takes a combined approach of enforcement, education and prevention.

Sheriff Dallas Baldwin said July 6, during the Franklin County Children Services "Lock it UP" child drug-safety campaign, that while "enforcement remains a critical part of our mission, prevention is just as important." The grant could bolster that prevention work.

The sheriff's office did not release a statement about the DART award. Residents can reach the HOPE Task Force at 614-525-HOPE (4673).